My 2gp:
a) since, despite current opinion, there will be a finite number of cursed items about when the event finishes, I don't see 'everyone' running about in artie suits. If this were the case, given the huge number of 7ae tokens on Siege (see poll from some months back) we'd all still be wearing bunny ears and hot pants, too. The cursed items will end up in a chest somewhere, fairly soon after the event's end date is announced.
b) As has been stated, a red healer was specifically created for this event. He is on the other side of the island. Why not by the docks? Easy - being red has always been a choice for the harder life.
c) Boat travel. I have to agree here. The decision was obviously made to make boat travel to Mag (or is that 'Lag'?) encia less appealing. Boats will burst into flame if there too long. A Skara-style ferry (well, apart from not even needing to say 'cross'). etc. However, if boat travel had been the only way to get there, you know exactly what U-Hall would look like 10 seconds after the event started. *sigh*
d) The items. Well, most are cursed, which makes them lootable. Good. The 2 item-specific ones, which are not cursed, are not that fantastic. The staff is nice for mages, under certain conditions, but still not an amazing weapon. The kryss? Ahem. I wouldn't use it to scratch my back. Have you examined that thing?!?
e) The monsters. So far, so good. The gradual increase in power has made things interesting, although I do admit the latest surge is a bit much for me. Too many void demons... but that could simply be because we're not doing enough to keep them at bay, so Mo'gluk's signed them up for his breedur programme.
f) It has been VERY interesting to see the reaction of Siege's community to this. People who would have previously shot each other on sight are now working side by side... some of the time. Granted, this makes life even more confusing, since some folks now have no idea who is friend or foe, but that just makes it more interesting, in my opinion.
g) NO GUARD ZONE!!!! FINALLY!!!! Somewhere other than Buc's Den without a guard zone!!! PLEASE don't let this vanish when the event is over!!!
So, overall, I feel it's a good event - the best I've come across in UO so far.
If anyone can do better - apply for a job with EA!